Postpartum home visitation program clears final round

Lawmakers passed a bill April 3 to connect postpartum mothers and infants enrolled in Medicaid with in-home support services.

LB22, sponsored by Lincoln Sen. George Dungan, requires implementation of an evidence-based, ongoing home visiting program for postpartum mothers and infants younger than 6 months who are enrolled in Medicaid.

The state Department of Health and Human Services is required to submit a state plan amendment to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services by Oct. 1, 2025, to implement a voluntary visitation program. The program may be staffed by nurses or other health professionals, social workers, early childhood professionals or trained and supervised lay workers.

Any costs associated with the program that are not covered by federal funds will be paid through the Medicaid Managed Care Excess Profit Fund. The use of state general funds to carry out the bill’s provisions is prohibited.

The measure also includes provisions of Lincoln Sen. Jane Raybould’s LB104. Those provisions define evidence-based home visiting programs and require DHHS to submit three annual reports, beginning Feb. 15, 2026, on the use of home visitation services in the state.

Funding for home visiting services will be limited to evidence-based programs that have received national certification and have clear guidelines and comprehensive standards to ensure high-quality service delivery.

Senators passed LB22 on a 47-0 vote.